Raja Ampat The Pearl of the Orient

NATURAL beauty and abundant natural resources in the Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua. Marine park becomes' paradise for divers. Beautiful pearls in the sea. Earth Raja Ampat also save a nickel.

Variety of animals that live there. Tersebutlah black head parrot (Lorius Lory) and king parrots (Probosciger aterrimus). Also grows a variety of flora, including forest orchids, bags Semar (Nepenthes mirabilis), ant nests (Myrmecodia connection), parasites and working for the drug.

Raja Ampat originally part of the Kingdom Tidore areas are divided into four regions of the small kingdoms of Waigeo Batanta, Mysol and Salawati.

Each region is a region of small islands scattered in the west of the Bird's Head in West Papua, the Moluccas Islands borders.

Of these islands, only a few indigenous tribes that inhabited the ten local. Kabui District One, located in the Strait Kabui. There are approximately 40 families berpenghidupan as a fisherman.

She led a simple life in the abundance of natural resources. Children play happily living in modesty. (Ariyanto Rony Nugroho)
sources:
Compass Print

Kashmir, Too Beautiful to Diabaikan

HARI still am when a soft voice Jet Airways flight attendant woke us to get ready because soon the plane will land in Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir, India. The Himalayas stretch of snow-covered carpet welcome that is still half-open eyes after sleep on the plane. The tension starts to look clear when the plane landed.

Nearly a third of the airport area contains a bunker filled with warplanes and heavy military vehicles. Dozens of soldiers with rifles are also on alert in the area of ​​the airport. Fear began to vanish when several colleagues tried to communicate with soldiers on guard. They graciously welcomed our chat.

Kashmir conflict may be more famous than tourism. Conflicts between Kashmir and India heating up since 1947, coinciding with the outbreak of India into two, namely in the western part of Pakistan and India in the east. Although Kashmir is legally into the country India, the region often hit by internal conflict.

The air was bone-chilling cold when we were together walking the streets in Srinagar to reach the first stop, the Dal Lake. Almost in every corner of the street looks a stand-armed soldiers. However, they seem friendly, welcoming wave our hands.

Residents are wearing warm clothes and also ply the streets are relatively clean. Arrive at Lake Dal, we were greeted boats decorated with carpets and wrapped in yellow gold and red lights called shikaras. It will take us down the boat to the houseboat village (houseboat) which became lodging during his stay in Kashmir.

There are unique when we live in this houseboat. At morning, we can see the various birds that catch fish or flower peddler who walked every houseboat. No less interesting is the view of everyday citizen with a boat back and forth on the lake.

Besides the lake, Kashmir has many wonderful sights beauty. Cover thousands of colorful tulips became an unforgettable beauty of the Garden Flower Indira Gandhi. Asia's largest tulip garden has a uniqueness, which only blooms in hersamaan for 20 days every year.

In addition, several parks such as Mughal, Shalimar and Nishat located around Dal Lake is also famous for its beautiful landscape. Too good to pass up.

Kashmir also has a place in the Himalayas is very exotic. Mountains of Gulmarg which is only about two hours from the city can be an option for tourists who want to enjoy the beauty of the snow and cold temperatures in one part of the Himalayas.

Here there is a gondola or cable car in the world's highest (13,780 feet) and longest in Asia (4,200 meters), which became the main transportation to the summit Khalinmarg. Travelers can ski or utilize the services of local skiers to get to the highest point before the border with Pakistan.

In addition, a variety of souvenirs and handicrafts typical of the mountainous Kashmir become an attraction for those who like to hunt for souvenirs. Starting from food, handicrafts such as silver and carpets have been famous in the world, until pasmina (scarf) is obtained easily in this place.

With all its beauty, Kashmir is very worthy of being one of the destinations for those with limited vacation time, but want a unique memorable experience during the holidays.

For those who do not want to be bothered with the affairs of tickets, lodging, and others, many travel agents or agencies that have been offering tour packages to Kashmir. While connoisseurs of travel, especially from Indonesia, increasingly facilitated by the selection of flight routes to get there from India's largest airline company, Jet Airways.

Examination of goods at the airport of Srinagar, Kashmir, which is very tight, even can last a long time, require a separate preparation. One of the tips to avoid this is to only carry items that we so desperately need (drugs and cameras) into the aircraft cabin.

Meanwhile, the other stuff we are made one in the trunk. Also, avoid carrying liquids in any form (paste, gel, perfume, or drinks) into the cabin. It becomes very essential for the passenger plane to Srinagar.
Sources:
Compass Extra

History Tours Gedong Songo Temple

Do you who like a walk? Tour? Historians who have a high spirit!. It feels less if you do not try to visit the Temple Gedong Songo. Gedong Songo Temple is the name of a complex of buildings of cultural heritage of Hindu temple located in the village temple, Bandungan district, Semarang regency, Central Java, Indonesia precisely in the slopes of Mount Ungaran. In this temple complex there are nine temples. This temple was discovered by the Raffles in 1804 and is a relic from the era of Hindu culture Wangsa Syailendra 9th century (927 years BC). This temple has similarities with the Dieng temple complex in Wonosobo. The temple is situated at an altitude of about 1,200 m above sea level so the air temperature is quite cold here (ranging between 19-27 ° C). Location 9 temples are scattered on the slopes of Mount Ungaran has beautiful natural scenery. In some locations there is also a neat pine forests and springs that contain sulfur.

To go it, the trip takes about 40 minutes from the city streets Ambarawa with a ride, and the slope is very sharp (on average reaches 40 degrees). Location of the temple can also be reached within 10 minutes from attractions Bandungan. Here's a list of mileage toward this temple:

     Gedong Songo - Ungaran: 25 km

     Gedong Songo - Ambarawa: 15 km

     Gedong Songo - Semarang: 45 km

Besides enjoying the journey and experience menyenangakan, you will also gain knowledge about the history of this Hindu temple heritage.

Raja Ampat islands, coral reefs and tropical fish

Raja Ampat, KOMPAS.com - Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan asked the regional chief of optimizing environmental conservation. Sustainable and attractive environment to attract domestic and foreign tourists to visit the local revenue.
The beauty of Raja Ampat Marine was much known abroad, and I've proved this with his own dive.
- Zulkifli Hasan

Zulkifli put this in a meeting with the Raja Ampat regency government ranks and Sorong, West Papua, Raja Ampat, Saturday (10/02/2010) night. Forestry Minister was accompanied by the Director General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Darori, Director-General Bambang Soepijanto Planning and Business Development Director of Forestry Iman Santoso around Papua and West Papua's forests and conservation review.

"The beauty of Raja Ampat Marine was much known abroad, and I've proved this with his own dive. Not that the area should not (with a change in the status area) to expand, but the government should pay attention to the environment and management as PAD, "said Minister of Forestry.

According to Minister of Forestry, the district government could extend the territory to be proposed by proposing changes to the status of forest conversion of existing production. However, Zulkifli confirmed that the conversion of the country as well planned as not to damage the environment.

The Ministry of Forestry is now promoting tourism investment nature preserve local government regulation No. 36/2010. Prior authorization natural attractions for years can now be picked up within three months.

Raja Ampat region has now become one of the destinations of foreign tourists who are interested in nautical tourism. Crystal clear waters, coral reefs, which became the spawning fish, ornamental fish and beautiful was the main attraction area.

"If beauty is damaged, the loss of his own people of Raja Ampat. As an outsider, they are now looking for new places to visit again," said Minister of Forestry.

Previously, Regent Marcus Raja Ampat Wanmar questions Menhut change the status of conservation forest areas to be used as farmland and residential areas. At least 80 percent of the 1 million acres of the Raja Ampat is a nature and conservation.

Raja Ampat regency status of the area complained that the building difficult. As the construction of public hospitals, most buildings are in the nature reserve.

Raja Ampat has a population of 50,000 inhabitants. The bulk of the work as fishing and ecotourism, which is developing the last seven years. Raja Ampat Regency who was born in 2003, a 429,462-hectare nature reserve.

According to Marcus, a change in the region is urgently needed because 80 percent of them are aquatic. Raja Ampat consists of four major islands, namely Salawati, Wajeo, LISOL and Batanta, with 640 small islands.

Contact in Jakarta, Indonesia Greenomics director Elfian Effendi said, Indonesia could environmental revenues from ecotourism at least $ 68.44 billion a year from the protected areas and protected forest area of ​​54.75 million hectares. This assumption is based on average earnings over the optimization of the international tourism income per hectare per year.

"Unfortunately, Indonesia is still unable to ecotourism revenue potential of this optimization. Revenue from ecotourism has yet to reach $ 6.8 billion today, 'said Elfian.

Airfare Buying Tips

The plane ticket is now very easy to get. Increasing the number of airline plane ticket purchasing power. Aircraft has now become a means of transportation of choice of many people today. But for those of you who want to buy plane tickets at cheap prices, there are a few tips on buying plane tickets.
- Message or booking airline tickets 2-3 months before the day of departure. Typically prices start at a low price. Avoid buying tickets on the day of departure or the day before departure.

- Rajin-diligent in checking the price of airline tickets online, because every day ticket prices are always changing, sometimes there are promos or discounts from airlines.

- Booking tickets immediately when they are getting one's way pricing and payment deadline (Time Limit).

Happy Hunting airfare (wk)

Still Japanese Tourist Interest in Yogyakarta

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) sure Yogyakarta and its surroundings are still attractive for foreign tourists from Japan after the earthquake and tsunami in the country. "Until now no significant decline in Japanese tourists who travel to Yogyakarta," said Chairman of PHRI DIY, Istidjab, in Jakarta, Sunday (04/03/2011).

Istidjab noted Japanese tourists up to the first quarter of this year was still perched in third position as the country's largest contributor of tourists to Yogyakarta after the Netherlands and Malaysia. Central Statistics Agency (BPS) to record up to March 2011 the number of tourists to Yogyakarta for Dutch tourists 25 745 people, then Malaysia 16,150, and 13,835 Japanese tourists.

While in Germany the next order of 8352, America 6350, Singapore 6770, Australia 4.9821, and Thailand 4847 people. "There are even adding a few series a group of Japanese tourists who went on a tour package from Bali to Yogyakarta using a direct flight," he said.

Most Japanese tourists, said Istidjab, interested in covering travel to a number of Prambanan and Borobudur temples as well as to a number of museums in Yogyakarta. It even found indications of an increased number of Japanese tourists in recent times. "The improvement is probably due to concerns over the effects of nuclear radiation (in NPP Fukushima, Japan) so they choose to come out of Japan," he said.

The fact that one indication of the still high level of hotel room occupancy in 17 star hotels 3, 4, and 5 are in the January-March 2011 in the range of 55 percent. Whereas Yogyakarta is still in post-disaster recovery phase of the eruption of Merapi and still face the threat of cold lava flood.

One Night in Raja Ampat

KOMPAS.com - Everybody would have felt less satisfied if only one night spent at the Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua. And it is true, if not the result of limited resources and employment survey missions, it feels like weeks living on these islands. Many people believe that the Raja Ampat is the most unreachable destination, and other extraordinary costs due will be paid is very high.
Who is not afraid, there see price list price of the resort around Rp 1.5 to 3 million Rp per night, per person. Not per room. For the most expensive resorts in the locally owned nothing about a $ 500,000 per night, per person. Fortunately, my dad a real knowledge of Raja Ampat, who currently resides at the beach Waiwo Waisai, one of the largest island in the southern region of Raja Ampat, Waigeo.
Homestay Mr. Ahmad
Mr. Ahmad's name, chose to remain on the beach since he retired his job at the oil companies. With family and grandchildren, he lives as a coastal people. Depending on the catching and selling fish Paisai, Waigeo main town on the island. With a fairly modest house, he was so open to receive guests staying in his house.
He told me some time ago, there was also foreign tourists from Norway and India, which stay in place for 3 weeks. In addition, residential area is quite shady and spacious, are often used for overnight guests to use a tent, or just sleep-Saung Saung around his house. As a result, costs should I spend more on gasoline to ship to the Raja Ampat Islands and surrounding islands.
Waiwo beach on the island of Waigeo seems ideal for those who only had a few days to play the Raja Ampat, with average capital. A little extra info, this time in the area of ​​the father of Ahmad's house, there were speeches, various small homestay that will be rented to guests are built. Certainly the price of the homestay, it would be very far below the price of lodging that there has been, and with facilities sufficient for the expected desire of many travelers on a budget in Indonesia is currently interested in the beauty of Raja Ampat requirements.
If you want to Raja Ampat, we can use the public boat from Sorong to Waisai fourteen departs hourly, travel about 2-3 hours. Rates of this ship when nobody is around Rp 120,000 return. Arriving in Waisai, we may wonder Nyong, son of Mr. Ahmad, to pick us up at the port to small boats to use their house.
-Other hotels in Raja Ampat
A little research by visiting various hotels on the island (I was three specialties, which were to go there), I was curious about what the original form of lodgings that cost millions. There are two hotels owned by Dutch people who occupy an island with a beautiful landscape.
As I suggest, the price is not lying. He seems to have a survey with a very good, so they can find the cluster of coral beach with a very smooth. From the inn, visitors can also reflect a small island at the front, associated with white sand and blue sea Toska to their dock.
In addition to the inn, I also visited the inn that had been managed as a research center. But transferred to commercial accommodation. Located adjacent to where I live, this inn has a different concept of a resort on the island of Kri, owned by foreigners. This inn has several buildings above ground, covered with trees, hedges and buildings that looked solid. Unlike the concept of the resorts on the island of Kri above the water, use of wood as the home of a local resident.
Ties of the fish pier
What can I do to Raja Ampat in just one night, enough to give the impression that I must return again to this place to give. In the afternoon, after clearing the goods, we were invited around a bit in front of the bay kabui, see the settlements and the usual pier sapokrem villagers use for fishing. Not the usual dock, residents can be said that "keeping the fish" around the dock. There are so many fish lurking below.
Viewed from above the water, visible colors such as black moss clustered under the pier. When I was snorkeling (out of curiosity, of course) tried, it is true that black gangs is the fish of different sizes, swimming with rhythmic movement and direction, amount to very much.
I imagine, if only those people they catch with nets, to hundreds of fish that stand out. But they seem to really prefer fishing with an environmentally friendly way. That is by not using the nets, so that only a small number of fish is not as trawling that catches all kinds of marine animals.
Fish for dinner only
Later in the afternoon, while waiting for the sunset, my sister and I chose Nyong boat to sea for a little snorkeling and fishing our dinner. a little boat from the coast, we have achieved snorkeling. Very nice, and very clear water, so that from above the sea, though colorful fish seem to roam.
Then we went fishing with only capital in the form of a nylon rope and bait fish meat cut into pieces. No need to wait a long time, so that the rope is immersed in water, just fish were seized. Like the tree selective logging system, was used Nyong system seems fastidious fish are lured there to preserve the living beings. This type of ornamental fish or fish that are still small in size, he will return to the sea.
The sun began to sink, eventually we went back to the coast. Get ready for a bath in the afternoon, apparently the father of the bathroom in the house of Ahmad's semi-open and free eco-friendly. In a sense, there is no roof and the water to draw on his own to be used in moderation.
Raja Ampat Non-Diver is still paradise
I want a little advice for those who want to give Raja Ampat. For those who are able to dive especially with the advanced level, this is certainly a paradise for you. Heard from my friend who has been diving in Raja Ampat, one week was not enough for the number of dives in the area to sample.
So choose a resort that offers diving facilities or with a guide who is experienced and know where the location of the desired point dive. But if you want to go there for a bargain, would have come to the homestay, homestay as those of Mr Ahmad, and use the services of only dive resorts that already has facilities for divers.
For those who have been unable to dive (including me), not true if we can not enjoy the trip in Raja Ampat (as I had thought that if the loss of Raja Ampat diving, but could not ). Many of the unique landscapes that can only be viewed on the archipelago. Kabui bay, which seems a maze, with walls that exotic reefs and islands Wayag with lots of white sand and blue sea that is an important icon of the Raja Ampat, only a fraction of the beauty we can see without diving into the sea go.
If we're in the sea, such as snorkeling, from what I experienced them, the beauty beneath the sea has to offer is very nice and more beautiful than the other places that are a common target for the tourists.
So, that is to say a trip to Raja Ampat we need to stay up to tens of millions. Included in the cost of the flight to Sorong (approximately U.S. $ 2.5 to 3 million round-trip), would actually be a fund of Rp 8.6 million for a trip to Raja Ampat for one week. Of course, with a comment prepared to share the boat with a minimum of 7 persons to travel in Raja Ampat islands, and stay at the homestay, homestay or residential are.
No more than the price of U.S. $ 6-8 million on holiday in Raja Ampat on holiday abroad. The experience will be much different and it makes us addicted to going back there again, or to explore other places in Indonesia.
We also help income for the locals. The international tourists were lining up to come along Raja Ampat. Hence, we have demonstrated that the nature and Indonesia sambangi a mandatory destination for those who love well-known adventurer and traveler. (Hasna Afifah)